EU Rules that Microsoft can Purchase Bethesda

A few months ago Microsoft announced that it had the intention to acquire ZenMax Media, the father company of Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Id Software and Arkane Studios, and others. The deal has since been approved by the European Union, and involves an a $7.5 billion deal.

“The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the combined entity’s limited market position upstream and the presence of strong downstream competitors in the distribution of video games,” says a European Commission statement. “The transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure.”

Once the deal is fully closed, Microsoft’s list of first-party studios will jump to 23, following the addition of Bethesda sub-studios like Dishonored developer Arkane, Wolfenstein studio MachineGames, Doom maker id Software, and The Evil Within studio Tango Gameworks. Microsoft appears to be planning to keep Bethesda running separately, with its existing leadership. 

Bethesda Studios’ Todd Howard has said since the deal was announced that it would be “hard to imagine” the company’s upcoming The Elder Scrolls 6 being an Xbox-exclusive release.